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Transportation & Logistics

"There can be little doubt of the region's freight-related strengths. With all but one of the eight counties are bordered by rivers, a large share of the regional workforce is connected to maritime industries. The region's unique geography also offers the promise of connecting with other states. With six states in easy reach – Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio – the Purchase Region residents can take advantage of a wealth of cultural and recreational amenities and businesses can readily access multiple metropolitan markets." Source: Purchase Future: An economic strategy for the Purchase Region of Western Kentucky June 2010.

Air Service

Barkley Regional Airport
United/Sky West provides 2 daily 45-minute, nonstop flights from Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah to Chicago-O'Hare where passengers can connect to 130 domestic and 30 international destinations without additional connections. Barkley Regional Airport features two runways; 5,500 feet and 6,500 feet by 150 feet wide. Area residents also frequently fly from Nashville International Airport, only 2 1/2 hours from the West Kentucky Megasite.
United Express | Barkley Regional Airport

Rail Infrastructure

The West Kentucky Megasite, with a planned rail corridor on site, is bordered by the Paducah & Louisville Railway (P & L). The P & L has numerous connections to Class I carriers including the Canadian National (CN), BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern. For a complete system map, see: http://www.palrr.biz/system_map.htm

River | Barge Transportation

Western Kentucky is traversed by the Cumberland, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Additionally, the megasite is served by four local river ports:

The West Kentucky Megasite is only 30 minutes from Paducah, the hub of inland waterways - the center of waterways linking Pittsburgh, Mobile, the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans, St. Louis, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and home to the northernmost ice-free ports. The area surrounding the West Kentucky Megasite has more opportunities for water transportation than virtually any other inland region in the country.

Trucking | Interstate Access

The West Kentucky Megasite's trucking and interstate access is unsurpassed. Located adjacent to U.S. Highway 45, 8 miles from Purchase Parkway (Interstate 69's designated route) and 10 miles via 4-lane highway to Interstate 24. I-24 provides access to Interstates 40 (east-west), 55 (north-south), 57 (north-south), 64 (east-west), 66 (east-west), and 69 (north-south) within 150 miles from the West Kentucky Megasite.
The site is 230 miles from the United Parcel Service International Hub in Louisville, KY and 150 miles from the FedEx International Hub in Memphis, TN.
The West Kentucky Megasite is served by more than thirty trucking companies with facilities based in the region.